ingram



, May l5, 1923.

W. B. INGRAM THERuosYsTEm FOR INTERNAL coMBUsTloN ENGINES Filed Sent. 13, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1923. 1,455,335

`W. B. IVNGRAM THERMosYsTE'M FOR INTERNAL" coMBUs'rIop:v ENGINES Filed sept. 1s. 1919 2 sheets-sheet 2 SM/g m/zef .Z rm

Patented May l5, 192.

, UNITED sraras WALTER B. INGRAE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

THERMO SYSTEM FOR NTERNAL-COMBUSTON ENGINES.

Application led September 13, 1919. Serial No. 323,514.y

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known thatl, ALTER B. INGRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri., have invented a certainv new and useful Improvement in Thermo Systems for internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. j

My invention relates generally to the internal combustion engines of motor vehicles and more particularly to the cooling system associated with the engine, the principal objects of my invention being to provide a relatively simple system that will be eftective in cooling the engine' by means of water circulating through the radiator and through the water jacket of the engine, said system providing for the draining of the` water from the radiator and water jacket,

thus eliminating the possibility of the freezing of the radiator and engine during the cold periods of the year; and, further, to provide a system wherein the water yfrom the system .while warm can be temporarily transferred to a storage tank, and llater delivered back to `the radiator and water jacket of the enginek to partially heat the standing on the street for several hours ory while occupying an unheated garage over night.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a relatively` simple and efficient system that can be combined with practically all forms of motor vehicle engines now in general use; and, further, to provide a system which is positive in action and which is at all times under control ot the driver of the vehicle. f e

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isan elevational view of an internal combustion engine yof the type generally used upon motor vehicles and showing my improved system associated therewith, parts thereof being in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the `center of the main control valve of the system.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 and showing the valve in shifted position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a combined vent and drain connection forming a part 0f my improved system. r

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanyingv drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates the bodyof a motor vehicle, '11 the dash thereof, 12 the hood, 13 the internal combustion engine, `1li the usual radiator, 15 the connection from the water jacket around the engine cylinders to the upper portion of the radiator, 16 the water circulating pump, 1T the connection from the lower portion ot the radiator to the pump, and 18 to said pump.

Supported in any suitable manner and at a convenient point beneath the body of the vehicle is a tank 19 that .is wholly encased in asbestos or like heat insulating material, said tank declining slightly toward its forward end andr leading from the lowermost point at the forward end of the chamber within this tank upwardly and thence forwardly to the pump 16 is a tubular connection 20. This tubular connection 20 is preferably in` direct alignment with the tubular connection 17, and together these connections decline slightly lfrom the lowermost point of the radiator 14 to the point Where the yconnection 20 enters tank 19, and by virtue oi such arrangement the water from the water jacket will under certain conditions automatically drain or discharge into tank 19.

Locatedin this'tubular connection adjathe connection from the lower portion of the water jacket around the engine cylinders ble member 23, such as a section of piano wire, the saine extending upwardly through a tube 24, the upper end ot' the latter being seated in the dash 11. The flexible member 23 extends entirely through this tube 24 and its upper end is provided with a knob or operatinghandle 25.

Leading` from the lowerinost point in the chamber of the water jacket around the engine cylinders to the tubular connection 20 adjacent valve 21 is a drain pipe 2G. Located adjacent to tank 19, and preferably above the central portion thereof is a valve housing 27r in which is arranged for operation a eylindrical valve 28, the upper end thereot carrying; 'a laterally projecting operating arm '29. f Secured in any suitableA manner to this arm is the lower en d ol" a flexible member 30, such as a 'section oit' piano wire, the same extendingupwardly through a Atube 31`r the upper end of which is seated in the dash 11 and the upper end of this lexible member 30 is providedwith a knob or operating' handle 32.

Formed through lthe body of valve 28 are arcuate ports`29 and 50 which are adapted to communicate with ports 31, 82', and 311-, the latter being termed in the limer tace otvalve housing 27l and disposed approximately ninety degrees apart. Leading` from port 31 to the chamber within tank 19 is a Y pipe 35 and leading from port 32 upwardly to a. small manually operable air pump 86 that is positioned on the dash 11 is a pipe 3"?.

Leadinfg Jtroni port 81- to a tunnel-shaped housing/"138 is a pipe 39 and leading 'from said funnel-shaped housing` into the upper portion 'of tank 19 is a pipe 40 in which is of th'eiadiator 14 is formed into a coil 45.

ldlhile the vehicle to which my improved system is applied is beine operated during the warmer months ot the yea r` valve 21 is preferably closed Iand valye 28 is shifted so that it occupies the positionn as illustrated in Fip'jure 2` with port 29 in communication with the ports 33 and 34 and port 30 in communication with the ports 31 and 32. Thus as the engine is operated. the pump 16 will effect a circulation oit the cooling; water in the system trom the water jacket around. the engine cylindersthrough connection 15 to the top of the radiator 14 andthe coolingr water after passing` downwardly through saidl radiator willv pass through pipe 17 to the intake er guet-i011 eide of pump ie.

Vapor whith inay accumulate in the upper portion of the radiator or any overflow therefrom due to boiling` will find eXit through pipe 44 and after passing through ports 33, 29 and 34, will pass through pipe 39 and from thence through pipe 40 to tank 19. lnasrnuch as pipe 44 is of considerable length and provided with the coil 45, vapor passing' through said pipe will be condensed and in such condition delivered to the tank 19, although any vapor that passes through the valve and through pipe 39 to the conical housing` 38 will find exit through the apertures 42 in the top thereof. i

lt desired, a sullicient amount ot water may be placed in the system to till or Apartially fill the tank 19 and the supply ot water within the tank can be carried as a reserve supply to be used in an emergency or in the event that water in the radiator becomes low and cannot conveniently be replenished;

To utilize the reserve supply ot water from tank 19, valve 21 is open by pulling knob or handle 25,. thereby opening valve 21, after which pump 3G can be manually operated to pump up sutlicient pressure in tank 19 above the body out' water therein to torce a portion ot said water outwardly'A through pipe 21 to the radiator, and the space. within the water jacket around the engine cylinders. l (lr, it desired, the valve 21 can be opened t'or a short period while the pump 16 is in operation, and the latter will draw a sutlicient amount or". water 'from the tank through pipe 2O to replenish the supply within the radiator. 'Y

vWhile the vehicle is being operated ,during the colder periods of the year, and there is danger ot' freezing of the water in the cooling` system7 or while the Vehicle* is parked for everal hours or4 remains over night in an unheated garage, the valve .28 is shifted by proper manipulation of knob or handle 32 so as to bring' ports 29 and 30 into register respectively with ports 32 and. 33 and 31 and 3421s illustrated in Figure 3, and at the saine time valve21 is opened.

lll)

Assuming; that these 'operations are per* formed immediately atteithe engine-ot the vehicle has stoppe l, thel warm water `trom the radiator and the jacket around the en-' gjine cylinders will gri pipes 20 and 2G into tank 19 and thus the radiator aud `water jacket are automatically y 'aduallj pass through .in such conditionor a considerable period ottimeandsaid water beingtlioioughly insulatedtrom external temperatures will be protected against freezing, even' though the Schiele remains standingafor several days in tempeiraturesbelow the freezing point.

When the yv'alveis shifted linto thel pos1- rvtion .illustrated in Figure 3', the driverof the upper portion of the :radiator and the pressure of this air will accelerate,the flow of water trom `said radiator and thewater jacket ot the engine into 'tank 19. After the radiator and water jacket have been thus drained and it is `desired to start the engine to drive the vehicle, valve 28 is shifted into the position illustrate-d in Figure 2, thereby bringing port 30 into register with ports 31 and 32. and by operating air pump 36, air is torcedinto tank l9through connection 35 and the pressure ot such air forces the water in said tank through pipes 20 and 17 to the radiator and through pipe 26 to the water jacket of the engine.

It the vehicle has been standing only a few hours, the heatfrom the water thus pumped back to the radiator and engine jacket will be effective in lowering the temperatures thereof and which result will greatly facilitate the startin of the engine.

In the event that alcohol or the like is used in the cooling waterof the system and there is any tendency ot said alcohol to vaporize, the resulting vapor will pass through pipe tai., -from thence through port 29', and from thence through pipes 39 and 4i() to the tank, andas a result, there is very little, it any, loss of `alcohol or other liquid that may be mixed with the water to reduce its freezing point.

'Ae self-draining thermo system of my improved construction is relatively simple, is applicable for use in connection with all types of motor vehicle engines utilizing a water, circulating` system for cooling pur' poses," and by providing means for draining the water trom theradiator and water jacket ot the engii'ie, the time', 'labor and consequent expense due to .repairs on the radiator and engine as a result ot treezing'is eliminated. Further,` by providing the storage tank tor receiving the water drained from the ra-` diator and water jacket vof the engine, it is possible to operatethe vehicle in extremely low temperatures without danger ot freezing, and after the vehielefhas stood 'for a considerable period of time, the water which .is maintained in. warm condition within the'` storage tank can be readily returned to the radiator and water jacketr ot the engine to raise the temperatures thereof and facilitate the starting of the engine. Further, by proriding the encased storage tank, the requirement for heat -in a garage to prevent the water in the radiator and engine from tree/ging is eliminated.

A.it will bereadily understood thatlminor; `Achanges in the size, form and construction of 4the various parts of myimprovedselff draining thermo system can be made and substituted for those herein sho-wn and described, without departingirom thespiritoltrrny invention, the scope of which forth in they appended claims.

ylclaim:v Y fr l. The combination with an internal combustion engine and the cooling system associated therewith, which cooling system includes a radiator, of a tank, connections between said tank and radiator, and means for creating air pressure within said radiator is" set 'to force the cooling` liquid therefrom into said tank. l

, 2. ln combination with an engine provided with a cooling system including a radiator' unit, a fan behind said unit, va storage tank, an overflow pipe forming a kconnection between the cooling system and the stortank and provided with a coil outside oi the radiator unit and positioned between the radiator and the tan, said coil being of suiiicient length to cause condensation of vapors therein when cooled by said tan, and a vent in proximity to the storage tank to rpermit the discharge of vapor.

3. In combination with an engine provided with ,a cooling system, a storage tank, a valve controlled connection between the cooling system andthe storage tank to permit the passage of vapors from the cooling system t0 the storage tank, said connection being` of sufiioient length to permit said vapors to condense therein, a, substantially closed funnel adjacent the tank into which said condensation is permitted to discharge, the upper surface of said funnel being provided with suitable vents.

4t. ln combination with an engine pro- 7ided kwith ya cooling system, a storage tank, a valve controlled connection between the cooling system and the storage tank to permit'the cooling fluid to drain into said tank, a second connection between the cooling sys tem and the tank to permit vapors to'pass into said tank, means for supplying the tank with air pressure, and a single valve controlling the supply of air pressure to the tank and controlling the connection whereby the vapors pass into said tank.

5. In combination with an engine prolio' and means for operating said controlling lvalve to place said last-mentioned connections in register.

n 6. In combination with a motor vehicle provided With 'an engine having. ateooling .system embodying a radiator, said motor vehiole being' also provided with a dashboard,

a storagetank, a pump for the Cooling Huid,

ysaid pump being connected with the radiator and also connected With the storage tank, ak valve for closing' the conneotion between the pump and storage tank, a second connection between the radiator and tank to permit the discharge of vapors from said radiator, a pump operated from thevdashboard and having a Connection With the tank, and a controlling vvalve operated from said dashboard, said controlling` valve operatingy to Control the circulationA of air from the pump, said controlling Valve further op- @rating to control the Circulation of vapor from the radiator.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 10th day of September, 1919.

WALTER B. iNGnAM. 

